JAKARTA (Bernama-ANTARA): Indonesia’s Environment Minister Hanif Faisol Nurofiq has announced strict requirements for companies importing scrap iron and steel to prevent radioactive contamination, reported ANTARA News Agency.
After attending a river cleanup activity here on Friday, Hanif said the ministry has formally requested related ministries and agencies to temporarily suspend scrap metal imports.
The halt will remain until industries comply with safety measures against radiation risks.
“We will issue import recommendations only if companies have installed Radiation Portal Monitoring and Continuous Emission Monitoring Systems (CEMS). Once these systems are in place, we will consider approving scrap metal imports,” he explained.
Additionally, companies must install Air Quality Monitoring Systems and Radiological Data Monitoring Systems.
These requirements aim to ensure monitoring from both the industry side and the surrounding area.
The announcement follows the detection of Cesium-137 contamination in frozen shrimp exported by PT BMS to the United States.
The radioactive exposure is suspected to have originated originate from PT Peter Metal Technology (PMT) in the Cikande Industrial Area, Serang District, Banten, located near PT BMS’s processing facility.
PT PMT processes scrap iron using an induction method, which can cause radiation from the iron to adhere to its facilities and contaminate frozen shrimp products.
The Cikande Industrial Area is now classified as a special incident site for Cesium-137 radionuclide radiation.
Furthermore, Cesium-137 contamination was also found in nine containers of scrap iron at Tanjung Priok Port last September.
According to the Ministry of Industry, the company that imported the scrap iron did not have the necessary permits, although it was not specified whether this referred to the company’s legal status or its import licence. – Bernama-ANTARA